Family Law

The Office of the Children Commissioner’s (OCC) is conducting a 2-year Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment (CSAFE).

In Phase 1 of the CSAFE Inquiry, the OCC aims to throw light on the scale, scope, nature and impact of sexual abuse in the family environment. In Phase 2, it will be looking at practice. 

To inform the inquiry, the OCC are issuing a call for evidence to organisations, professionals and adults working with children and young people who are victims and survivors to identify the full picture of the nature and impact of CSAFE.

The inquiry into CSAFE will:

• assess the scale and nature of this form of abuse in England including among BME, LGBT, disabled and other minority groups of children and young people estimating the prevalence of that which is detected and undetected by 
• statutory agencies;
• assess inter-agency and individual practice for preventing and responding to child sexual abuse in England, and its impact on children and young people;
• make recommendations for improving the identification and prevention of child sexual abuse and child protection/law enforcement responses to child sexual abuse.

This inquiry will focus on child sexual abuse perpetrated or facilitated in or out of the home, against a child under the age of 18, by a family member, or someone otherwise linked to the family context or environment, whether or not they are a family member. This definition of CSAFE includes individuals who are involved in caring for the child in the family home on an informal basis, including babysitters and child minders and other adults who are recognised and identified by the child as a member of their extended family.

For further information please visit www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk, or contact Dr Graham Ritchie, Principal Policy Advisor and Head of the Secretariat for the CSAFE Inquiry or Dr Sandra S. Cabrita Gulyurtlu, Senior Research Advisor: research.inquiry@childrenscommissioner.gsi.gov.uk.

To download 'Call for evidence: Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment (CSAFE)' click here.